Wanted: Women participants in U of K's women's health registry

The Kentucky Women's Health Registry, formed in 2004 to gather information about the state of health of Kentucky women, is seeking women participants.

The registry, open to all women living in Kentucky over the age of 18,  links women interested in participating in research studies with University of Kentucky researchers who are seeking study participants. The registry contains demographic and health history information obtained from the Registry Questionnaire. This information is used to assist UK investigators in identifying potential research participants as well as painting a picture of the health of Kentucky women. Many questions regarding women's health remain unanswered. For years women have been left out of many research projects - but now we need to close the knowledge gap. If we want the answers for our daughters, our granddaughters, and ourselves then we need to help scientists find the answers. ...
You can help increase knowledge about women's health by:

* Signing up for the Kentucky Women's Health Registry as a potential research subject.
* Serving as a community volunteer to assist with studies.

You may wonder how participating in research studies or epidemiological studies can help you. Each study varies, but the following are some of the benefits that are often offered:

* Contact with specialty physicians and other health care providers
* Access to new medications and alternative therapies
* Social contact and support systems
* Small monetary compensation
* The satisfaction of knowing that you are contributing to women's health care

This is the first statewide registry of its kind. You have the chance to help researchers understand the health issues of Kentucky women and address your needs better! At the same time, you may be given the opportunity to help researchers learn more about diseases such as arthritis, fibromyalgia, lupus, heart disease and cancer in women.

The survey is available online at www.kywomensregistry.com. This is a secure Web site dedicated to maintaining your confidentiality. Your participation in the registry is strictly confidential; we do not share Registry information with anyone without your consent. If you wish to complete a paper survey instead of completing it online, your information is scanned into the computer server that maintains your confidentiality. Your paper survey is then shredded.

To begin your registry questionnaire, we must have either paper consent and HIPPA consent forms, or you must accept the terms of the survey before entering the online version. Please feel free to pass our Web address or toll free number 800-929-2320 to any female friends or relatives you think may be interested. We can mail them their own questionnaire to complete.

Submitted by Dr. Leslie Crofford, professor of internal medicine and chief of the Division of Rheumatology; Gloria Singletary, chair and director of the Women's Health Program Kentucky Clinic; and Mary Johnson, clinical research administrator, Kentucky Women's Health Registry.